Gateley Wareing has notched a record year, with turnover increasing 21 per cent to just more than £17 million.

And the Birmingham office of Browne Jacobson has made a significant contribution in helping the firm achieve a record turnover of £27.1 million.

Gateley Wareing, which has offices in Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham, has a total staff of 210.

One hundred and sixty of those are based in Birmingham in Equity House, the former ear-and-throat hospital in the city centre.

It is the last results under its former status, with the firm now a limited-liability partnership.

It does not reveal profits per partner figures, though in nine months time it will have to do so.

Senior partner, Michael Ward, said they would release them "kicking and screaming" because they felt it was "a bit unseemly".

Mr Ward said the growth had primarily come from the corporate and property services side. "It was not a brilliant market, but neither was it a bad one in 2004/2005," he said. The firm was looking forward to 2005 albeit some of the market indicators were worrying.

Mr Ward shrugged off the increasing competition in Birmingham where three or four new firms have expanded over the last 18 months.

The Birmingham office of Browne Jacobson, which has recently moved to new premises in Victoria Square, saw a year-onyear growth of 27 per cent to £ 3.8 million. This accounted for 27 per cent of the turnover growth for the firm as a whole.

Overall, Browne Jacobson achieved a 13.5 per cent year-on-year increase from £24.1 million and it is the first time it has passed the £27 million mark.

Managing partner, Brian Smith said: "It has been another phenomenal year and our year-end result has surpassed expectations."

He said the firm's success could be attributed to continuing growth within the health-and-insurance practices, for which it has a national reputation, alongside strong performance in other sectors in particular those related to recovery in the corporate market.

In the Birmingham office, this is reflected in recent partner hires specialising in property, banking and construction.

New clients including the YHA, Birmingham City Council and Tie Rack along with increased work from existing clients such as Media Square, NHSLA, Geopost and Norwich Union.

Browne Jacobson has offices in Birmingham, London and Nottingham. The firm employs over 460 people, including 55 partners and 176 other lawyers.

A more detailed breakdown, including profits per partner figures, is expected to be issued in July.